Since most people in Ireland speak English, it is not commonly known that Ireland has its own language. Irish, or Gaeilge, is becoming less and less spoken and is slowly dying. However, there has been a resurgence in the past several years to keep the language alive and spoken, both in Ireland and around the world. Due to British rule and the outlawing of the native irish language, only 3% of the Irish population can speak the Irish language as the mother tongue. There are places in Ireland, called the Gaeltacht, where Gaeilge is the primary language spoken. While it is a difficult language to learn, there are several tools that can help you learn.
Mango Languages
Mango Languages is a subscription language learning website
that has Irish as an option. It ties in grammar, vocabulary, and culture notes
to help learners grasp the Irish language. Each lesson builds on the last. The
most helpful part is that it has “critical thinking” integrated into each
lesson, where learners take something they just learned and apply it to
something else they learned to create phrases they can use. This kind of learning
helps to solidify what you learn as well as put phrases together based on other
words you know. It is important to be able to do this, and learning the grammar
and sentence structure is crucial for learning the language. While the site has
a subscription option, check to see if your library offers it to you at no
cost.
Colloquial Irish: The Complete Course for Beginners
“Colloquial Irish: The Complete Course for Beginners” by Roslyn
Blyn-LaDrew, John Gillen, Tomás Ó hÍde, and Máire Ní Neachtain is a great book
resource for learning the Irish language. The book has conversations, English
to Irish and Irish to English word lists, cultural points, and more to help you
learn the language. The publisher’s website has free downloadable audio content
to expand on what is covered in the book. This helps you get a sense of how the
language sounds.
Transparent Language
Transparent Language is another subscription-based language
learning website. Like Mango, many libraries and other institutions offer it at
no cost to patrons. It allows you to set a personal goal of time practiced each
day. Each lesson has a place to practice speaking the language and transcribing
the phrases you hear. This is unique from other online platforms, and it allows
the material to sink in more.
Duolingo
Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning
websites and apps. While there is a paid option, it is known for its free
option. Duolingo is excellent for learning vocabulary and certain phrases, but
it does not teach grammar as thoroughly as other sites. It is a good resource
to gamify your learning of the Irish language, but it should not be the only
website you use.